Tensions flare in Pakistan’s capital as police detain dozens of Afghan refugees in Islamabad, herding them into temporary camps under a controversial repatriation initiative. A journalist caught in the sweeps has amplified fears for media rights and refugee welfare.
Media dispatches reveal police zeroing in on B-17, where Wednesday’s operations netted multiple detainees now held at Haji Camp. This builds on persistent allegations of police overreach in hotspots like Faisal Town—24/7 patrols, undercover tactics, and demands for bribes.
Years of residency offer no shield for these Afghans, many bereft of documentation after fleeing Taliban rule. Human rights monitors report a climate of dread, with families torn apart and lives upended by summary actions.
Amnesty International’s pointed letter to PM Shehbaz Sharif condemns the ‘arbitrary arrests and abuses,’ referencing UNHCR stats on 110,000 imperiled individuals. It calls for halting deportations, ensuring legal processes, and shielding at-risk groups from return to peril.
‘These refugees deserve protection, not expulsion to danger,’ the organization asserts, spotlighting journalists, women, and defenders who could face Taliban vengeance.
Pakistan’s four-decade role as Afghan sanctuary frays under the 2023 Illegal Foreigners scheme, which has expelled thousands, including some verified cases. Critics slam the policy as inhumane, breaching international duties amid economic strains and terror threats.
Global watchdogs press for restraint. As camps overflow and outcries swell, Pakistan confronts a moral crossroads: enforce borders at humanity’s expense, or recommit to refuge amid regional chaos?